Anime is one of the most popular ways to pass the time, and about 3.5% of the world’s population watches it regularly. There are a lot of good shows to watch, like Bleach, Naruto, and Death Note. Today, we’re going to talk about the best anime about gambling and why we like it. No matter if you like to gamble or not, you will enjoy our list of the top five anime about gambling.
1. Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler
Kakegurui Yumeko Jabami. The main character in the anime is Kakegurui, which you can watch on Netflix.
Title: Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler
From July 1 to September 23, 2017, it aired.
Episodes: 12
Themes: Game, Mystery, Psychological, Drama, School, Shounen, Gambling School, Compulsive Gambling.
Netflix lets you watch it.
Kakegurui is the best anime you can find about gambling. The whole Netflix show is based on Homura Kawamoto’s manga series about gambling. The story takes place at Hyakkaou Private Academy, a high school where students are only graded on how good they are at gambling.
Even though this seems strange, the goal of the academy is to train future leaders and professionals who can beat their peers at different gambling games. Students bring their own money to school, and in the end, they either win or lose and have to follow the rest.
In an even stranger turn of events, any student in Kakegurui who doesn’t quickly move up the ranks is called a “house pet.” Here comes Yumeko Jabami, a beautiful first-year transfer student who is hiding a dark secret. She didn’t join Hyakkaou to make money or get a better reputation. She gambles all the time because it gives her real pleasure.
It doesn’t matter what kind of risk she takes or how big it is. Yumeko just wants to keep playing, and her love of games of chance puts her in a place where she threatens the school’s established order. The student council will try to stop her because they see her as an enemy, but Yumeko has way too many tricks up her sleeve.
This is without a doubt the best gambling anime you can watch on Netflix right now, and it already has two great seasons.
2. GGyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Kaiji Itou is the main character in the anime about gambling called Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor.
from October 3, 2007, to April 2, 2008
Episodes: 26
Themes: Game, Psychological, Thriller, Seinen, Gambling, Gambling Debt
Crunchyroll is where you can watch it.
Nobuyuki Fukumoto wrote the first version of Kaiji, which came out in 1996 as a manga. It stayed in print until 2017. In the meantime, Madhouse bought the franchise and turned it into the 26-episode anime TV show Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor. For a while, the creators of the show wanted to call it Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji instead.
After the show did well, Nippon TV decided to air a sequel called Kaiji: Against All Rules, which fans also thought was a good follow-up. To keep fans happy, the series was turned into a trilogy of live-action movies. The first one, Kaiji, came out in October 2009.
Kaiji 2 came out in November 2009, and Kaiji: Final Game won’t be out until January 2020, so it took nine years to finish the story. But why has the show been on for more than 20 years? The plot is the key.
The main character, Kaiji Itou, is a bad guy who is down on his luck and spends most of his days drunk. A friend with bad intentions tricks him into getting into a huge amount of debt, and Kaiji is forced to sober up quickly and join an illegal gambling ring on a cruise ship.
There is a lot of gambling and more than one or two physical fights that force Kaiji to adjust to his new life, which is full of all kinds of risks. We think this is one of the best gambling animes we’ve seen. The plot is deep and interesting, and Kaiji’s character is both believable and a good example for anyone who wants to change.
3. Legendary Gambler Tetsuya
Tetsuya is the main character in the anime about gambling with the same name. Image: Toei Animation
Legendary Gambler Tetsuya, also known as The Legends of Gambler: Tetsuya
from October 7, 2000, to March 24, 2001.
Episodes: 20
Game, History, Shounen, Gambling, and Cheating are the main themes.
From 1997 through 2005, The Legend of the Gambler: Tetsuya was first released as a manga series. From October 2000 to March 2001, it was shown on TV as Legendary Gambler: Tetsuya. Tetsuya is a traditional story about a teacher and a student, in which the student gets better than the teacher.
In Japan after World War II, Tetsuya is a skilled gambler who plays mahjong in Shinjuku City. The anime series tells his story. Tetsuya doesn’t mind using all of his skills to win, even though he has a lot of them. Other anime about gambling, like Akagi, use clever mind games to beat their opponents. Tetsuya, on the other hand, prefers to cheat whenever he has the chance.
Tetsuya is based on the real-life story of a gambler named Takehiro Irokawa, who became known as Hourouki Mahjong. This gives the show even more spice. Even though the anime is a bit romanticized, and you shouldn’t take everything at face value, one of the reasons why Legendary Gambler Tetsuya works is that it has a lot of gritty realism in it.
Japan is shown as it really was after the war, with illegal mahjong parlors offering empty comfort to a broken country. Still, the show makes you feel both hope and despair. The characters are believable, and the whole anime has a different vibe.
In Legendary Gambler Tetsuya, the professional gamblers don’t mind cheating. In fact, cheating was seen as a clear sign of skill back then, and pros would race to figure out each other’s plans because the other party already knew them. All of these things make Legendary Gambler Tetsuya one of the most interesting gambling animes you can watch right now.
4. Yami Maiorita Tensai: Touhai Densetsu Akagi
The title of the book is Touhai Densetsu Akagi: Yami ni Maiorita Tensai, often known as Akagi or Akagi: The Genius Who Descended into Darkness.
As from: Oct 5, 2005 – Mar 29, 2006
Episodes: 12
Theme: Mahjong, psychological aspects of gambling, and gambling strategy
You can watch it on Netflix
Another anime about gambling, Akagi is set in the post-World War II era. Shigeru Akagi, the title character, is a young boy who fights the Yakuza members in a game of mahjong and defeats them at the age of 13, as Japan moves on from the horrific bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
By helping Nangou, a compulsive gambler who has amassed a debt of three million, Akagi rapidly demonstrates his talent. In one final game that swiftly turns to push him closer to the edge, he puts his life against defeating the mafia in a desperate bid to clear his identity.
However, Akagi shows up just in time to give Nangou some somewhat odd counsel that works, and Nangou is released from his obligation. Next, Akagi starts playing by himself, and everyone quickly sees that the young man is a prodigy who is destined to become one of the nation’s most renowned gamblers.
However, Akagi has his own issues because he is running from the police. We think this is one of the best gambling-related animes available today since it tells the account of a street kid who improves his lot in life by developing an aptitude for mahjong, which was a goal for many people in post-World War II Japan.
The character of young Akagi was then evoked in a live TV drama between 2015 and 2017 after two live-action films were released back in 1995 and 1997 before the show debuted in 2005.
5. Saki
Gaming-related anime was broadcast on Gonzo. Saki. Picture: Gonzo
Name: Saki
from April 6, 2009, through September 28, 2009,
25 episodes
Theme: Schoolgirl gambling, gambling strategy, Mahjong, gambling, and psychological
Crunchyroll is where you can watch.
Saki is a fantastic gambling-related anime that borrows elements from both Akagi and Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler. Saki Miyanaga is a schoolgirl who hates everything about mahjong, a game that has touched her life severely in the past. However, when her friend Kyoutarou Suga invites her to join the school’s mahjong club, young Saki unintentionally exhibits her aptitude for pattern recognition and success at the game.
Despite Saki’s best efforts to hide her pledge, the club president Hisa Takei swiftly recognises it. Saki has an advantage because of her unusual playstyle. That unintentionally earns her the enmity of Nodoka Haramura, a skilled club member and the champion the year before.
During the course of the programme, Saki swiftly gets over her reluctance to play mahjong and chooses to set herself a new objective: winning national competitions. Young Saki’s rediscovered enthusiasm for the game is further fueled by her friendship with Haramura, with whom she reconciles.
Saki contends that it’s less about gambling than it is. It involves recognising patterns. Saki is recognised as one of the best gambling animes of all time, and for good reason. It is true that the anime has its dramatic moments, but overall, it is a lighthearted and enjoyable spectacle.
The manga series by Ritz Kobayashi, which was written and illustrated by Gonzo, was continued in the television programme, which aired on TV Tokyo in 2009.
More Animes Where Gambling Is Touched Upon
There are many additional series where gambling and chance are mentioned in the plot, even though there aren’t as many anime gambling shows as you might have hoped. You can enjoy a well-made anime series, one of the cornerstones of the market, without the plot including gambling. Let’s look at a few of these programmes that you shouldn’t miss.
Naruto Gambling Tsunade from Naruto
Tsunade the young gambles in Naruto: Shippuden. Picture: Pierrot from Viz Media/Studio
Subject: Naruto
Oct. 3, 2002 – February 8, 2007,
220 episodes
Theme: Martial arts, action, adventure, comedy, super power
Streaming services: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, and Funimation
There is a lot we can say about Naruto. The anime, which debuted on October 3, 2020, quickly gained popularity thanks to its 220 episodes that chronicled the exploits of the title character and his friends and enemies. The main character of the programme is Naruto, a young child who served as a human trap for the formidable Nine-Tails Fox that attacked his native village of Konoha.
Tsunade, the initially haughty granddaughter of Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki, will appear frequently throughout the series. Tsunade is also aware of the Rasengan, a unique technique that Naruto sets out to perfect right away despite not possessing the necessary skill.
Tsunade also has a funny side; although it isn’t depicted in the anime in great detail, she is a compulsive gambler.
Which Character from Kakegurui Are You Based On Your Zodiac?
Discover the zodiac signs of the Kakegurui characters, including Yumeko, Ryota, Kirari, Mary, Sayaka, Runa, and more, and how they link to your personality.
The Netflix animated series Kakegurui, based on the well-known 2014 manga series Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler, follows the exploits of Yukemo Jabami, a new transfer student to the famed Hyakkaou Private Academy, where a clique of degenerate gamblers rules the show. Yukemo has a powerful gambling addiction of her own and a superhuman capacity to spot cheaters, both of which are unknown to her new classmates.
Now is as good a time as any to analyse the characters’ astrological signs and how they relate to their personalities on the show, as well as how viewers may stack up to them in their own lives, as fans eagerly await the release of Season 3.
1. Aries – Midari
Midari Ikishima must be an Aries because she does so many dangerous things on the show and has a tendency to hurt herself. Aries are often seen as some of the bravest and most ambitious zodiac signs. She pokes herself in the eye with a pen, gambles with her own body parts, and plays dangerous games that could kill her in class.
Midari’s impulsiveness and desire to be the best fit with Aries being the first sign on the zodiac chart, since she will do anything to be the best gambler and the most important person in Yumeko’s heart.
2. Taurus – Kirari
Kirari Momobami is a Taurus because she is the main character of the series and is known for being stubborn and having a strong sense of loyalty to her sister. Kirari has some bad traits, but she can also be kind, understand others, and think in a very logical way.
Kirari is stubbornly loyal to her sister Ririka, just like any true Taurus. She doesn’t want anything to come between her and Ririka, but she also knows that Ririka is really close to Mary. She is one of the most underrated anime bad guys because of things like these.
3. Gemini – Itsuki
Itsuki Sumeragi seems to be a very nice, caring, and a friendly first-year student at the Academy at first glance. But it’s all a front for who she really is, which is a spiteful gambler who uses how she looks to get what she wants from her classmates.
Even though Itsuki is clearly a liar, her good astrological qualities include intelligence, keen observation skills, adaptability, and daring creativity. This fits with the time she pretended to be nice to Yumeko after she was kicked off the Student Council.
4. Cancer – Ryota
Even though he is friendly and has a good heart, Ryota Suzui is most known for being shy, quiet, and reserved. This makes him almost certainly a Cancer, which is often seen as one of the shyest zodiac signs. Ryota is also a very smart student, which fits the bill as well.
Even though Ryota didn’t have much confidence and couldn’t speak up for himself at first, the time he spends with Yumeko helps him get better at gambling and grow as a person. Still, as someone who would rather make others happy than himself, which is a trait of most Cancers, I’d rather help others than myself.
5. Scorpio – Yumemi
Yumemi Yumemite is easy to put in the Gemini category, but she also has the deadly sting of a Scorpio because she is brave, persistent, and loves to cause pain. Yumemi will betray any kind of loyalty if she has been wronged, and she won’t think twice about killing someone to get back at them.
Even though she tends to be aggressive, Yumemi’s most admirable Scorpionic traits are her positive attitude and her strong desire to become a famous actor like her idol Kawaru.
6. Runa for Sagittarius
Even though it seems like every character in the show has a dark side, Runa Yomozuki’s most obvious traits are that she is very happy, bubbly, and enthusiastic. Runa’s laid-back, carefree attitude is more typical of Sagittarius than any other sign.
Runa often avoids her responsibilities by playing video games in the library during meetings, which irritates her more serious classmates. She is the only Student Council member who doesn’t take her job too seriously. But Runa’s best qualities are her moral compass and her insistence on fair play, which is another trait of moral, generous Sagittarians.
7. Taurus – Kaede
On the show, Kaede Manyda is a smart gambler who acts just like a typical Capricorn. On the plus side, Kaede is very organised, logical, structured, and good with money when it comes to gaming.
On the other hand, Kaede is often very stoic, holds grudges, and thinks he is smarter than everyone else. He is also known for being able to control his other students, especially Midari in Season 1 and Yumeko in Season 2.
8. Capricorn – Sayaka
Sayaka Igarashi must be an Aquarius because she is the smartest student on the show and is only driven by logic. Sayaka is so sensible that she thinks taking risks and gambling are stupid, but she is drawn to Kirari, who is the opposite.
Sayaka is a Japanese name that means “clear, pure, and clean” in English. This reflects Sayaka’s water sign, her pure heart, and her ability to make other people happy. If Kirari didn’t have a bad effect on her, she would show these traits even more.
9. Aquarius – Mary
Mary Saotome is a true Pisces because she was born on March 8. Even though some of her more aggressive traits don’t fit with this sign, things like being polite and sensitive to the feelings of others do.
After losing everything in a match to Yurkio, Mary becomes a more caring and understanding friend. Since Pisces is thought to be the most humble sign in the zodiac, Mary, the main character in a popular anime, feels humility as she grows as a person.
Why is anime so popular and where did it come from?
Anime is one of the most popular Japanese cultural trends ever. No matter how much you like Japanese culture, you’ll be hooked on anime as soon as you see a show you like, like Naruto or Full Metal Alchemist. The history of the industry goes all the way back to the 19th century, when Utushi-e, or “magic lanterns,” were used to make it look like pictures were moving.
The first anime movie, though, was called Momotaro: Umi no Shinpei, and it came out in 1945, when World War II was still going on. When Toei Animation and Mushi Production, one of the oldest animation studios in the country, opened, things started to get better. They paved the way for other studios to come.
Because the genre is so flexible, there are horror anime, epic saga anime, fighting anime, and even high school anime. By 2019, Japan’s anime business was worth $19 billion each year.
Since the middle of the 20th century, when TV series started to be made, there have been over 11,000 different ones. Some, like Bleach and Naruto, have hundreds of episodes.
Conclusion
Even though gambling is a common theme or topic in anime, it’s more of a cultural thing than something the anime tries to focus on. Mahjong has been a big part of life in Japan after the war, and many people who were desperate and broke turned to illegal gambling parlours in a last-ditch effort to change their luck. Several have failed.
The gritty realism of animes about gambling only goes this far, and the heroes always win. This is a good reminder that we owe it to everyone around us not to be the reason for such stupidity ever again. Between now and then, there are millions of hours of great anime to watch, including the ones we just suggested.